Everything you need to get started with sublimation-Part I

Everything you need to get started with sublimation – Part I

Do you want to know what sublimation is?
Are you thinking of getting started in sublimation, but you don’t know anything about it?

You entered the right place. In a few lines and in a simple way I will guide you step by step so that you can get started in this wonderful world.

It is the process of transferring an impression (graphic or text or a combination of both) made on a special paper called Transfer onto a polyester object or article or with a special polyester or polymer coating. We can also do it towards cotton.

1. Sublimation on 65% polyester or polymer coated products:

To apply this system, it is necessary that the shirts, mugs, plates, key rings, etc., contain polyester or are covered by polymers. This will adhesion of the special ink for sublimation on the product. Below I show you some of the most used products for this type of image transfer work:

To transfer all your designs you must print them on paper for sublimation with sublimation ink. In the market we find many brands, however I recommend these:

What printer should I use for sublimation?

In the market there are a large number of Printers that are used for sublimation.
Many of them are no longer available in department stores such as the Epson L120, a fantastic printer, made for large jobs at home, but which is no longer in production.
Next I will leave you 3 of the most used Epson models (it is the brand that I always use to sublimate) with their characteristics.

Epson Ecotank ET- 2720

– Print up to 4,500 pages black/7,500 color

• Wireless, plus hands-free voice-activated printing

• Scan multiple pages

• Easy to fill: Ecotank system

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Epson Workforce ST-2000

–  3-in-1 multifunction printer allows for easy wireless print, copy, and scan

• Print speed of up to 10.5 ppm

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Epson Ecotank ET- 4700B

– 4-in-1 with ADF, Wireless & Ethernet: Print / Copy / Scan / Fax

• does not support auto 2-sided print, scan or copy

• Print Speed: Black: up to 10.0 ppm; Color: up to 5.0 ppm.

2. Transfer to Cotton

To transfer a design printed on cotton fabrics, you must take into account the following: color of the fabric, type of printer, type of paper..
To do this, you must print with ordinary ink on transfer paper and then place the design on the fabric. This system is only used on 100% cotton pieces.
This paper comes in two versions, for white or light fabrics and for dark fabrics.Here are the brands that I have used:

This brand has worked very well with the cotton work that I have done.

What kind of Printer?

Any printer that uses regular ink. Example:

It is important to tell you that if you are going to use both techniques, you must have a printer for each one, since the inks are different.

And your designs must be mirror printed

So far we have learned the types of sublimation, materials where to sublimate and the paper you need.

In my next post, you can see what else you need to complement your sublimation studio